Creating ODBC Connections for SQL

The ODBC Data Source name (DSN) contains your database setup information. ODBC stores the information so you do not have to retype your server information when you connect to your SQL Server database.

  1. Launch the ODBC Data Source Administrator.
  2. On the System DSN tab, click Add.
  3. Select SQL Server Native Client 11.0 and click Finish. The Create a New Data Source to SQL Server dialog appears.
  4. In the Name and Description fields, type an appropriate name and description for the data source, for example, mmsdata1.
  5. In the Server dropdown list, select (local) or the appropriate server name.
  6. Click Next. Another screen appears asking you to define how SQL Server will verify authenticity of the login ID.

    By default, With Integrated Windows authentication and the checkbox telling the system to connect to the SQLServer to obtain the default settings for the additional configuration options are selected.

  7. Click Next.
  8. Click the Change the Default Database to checkbox and select the corresponding database name from the dropdown list; for example, mmsdata1.
  9. Click Next.
  10. Optional: Complete the fields in the succeeding screen that allow you to add to the database settings, for example, language for system messages.
  11. Click Finish. The ODBC Microsoft SQL Server Setup dialog appears.
  12. Optional: To ensure that the connection is working, click Test Data Source. A message box indicates whether or not the test was successful. Click OK.

    If there is an error, resolve the problem indicated in the error message.

  13. In the ODBC Data Source Administrator dialog, click OK to complete the connection.